In an odd twist of fate, I am very glad that I didn’t read this book when I first received it. Several weeks ago my dog Jack, a lab mix, received the very same prognosis as Hannah – a large mass on his spleen. What we had assumed to be a pot belly from perhaps excessive late-night snacking turned out to be an 11 lb tumor (no joke). The vets had never seen a tumor this large in a dog his size before.

The fact that Jack’s spleen hadn’t ruptured was in and of itself a miracle. Time dragged on for what felt like eternity as we waited for the results of his several-hours-long surgery, and then days thereafter for the prognosis of the tumor. The weeks-long recovery from having lost more than half of his blood was absolutely terrifying. Learning that the tumor was benign was a blessing beyond anything I dared hope.

Unfortunately Hannah had not been so fortunate. In the midst of all the uncertainty and fervent prayers, it would have destroyed me to have read Hannah’s plight prior to our incredibly blessed and happy outcome. I feel so fortunate, and as a result of my own experience down the same road with Jack, this book tugged at my heart more than I could ever tell you.

Stay follows TV sports director Dave Burchett’s journey with his dog Hannah, a beautiful yellow lab, from her puppyhood to the final weeks of her battle with cancer. In this beautifully heart-wrenching story, Burchett examines the inspiring life-lessons he learned from his faithful companion, exploring the surprising similarities between a dog’s relationship with his master and our relationship with Christ, and how we can use these lessons to grow closer to God.

I found the life lessons in this book, dog experiences I’ve been through countless times without giving a second thought, become surprisingly more meaningful and instructional when viewed through the lens of scripture. Burchett’s focus on Christ as our caring and loving master, along with a wonderful emphasis on grace, create a powerfully inspiring read that should be on the TBR list of every dog lover!

On his way home after surgery. I’m very happy to say Jack made a full recovery and is now the most energetic and playful 11yo dog you’ll ever meet!

Rating: 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. in exchange for an honest review.